Turning Data into Insights for Competitive Advantage by Creating a Data-Driven Culture

Course Description

We now live in the age of data. Through the use of computers, cell phones and other smart devices, we generate enormous amounts of data that companies can use to better understand their customers, track their products, more effectively utilize resources and increase productivity and the bottom line. In this module, you will learn how some of the world’s leading companies have leveraged business analytics to turn data into insights for better decision making and create a data-driven culture that leads to superior strategic, tactical and operational decisions.

What You’ll Learn

This program will assist you in exploring the data analytics life-cycle from a variety of business areas such as marketing, financial forecasting, and operations.

Key program takeaways include:

Know what it takes to create a data-driven culture

Understand the different types of business analytics and how they can add-value to your business and the overall quality of decision making

The factors that lead to success or failure with business analytics

Current and future trends in business analytics

Practical examples of companies using business analytics in real world decision making to drive value.

Who Should Attend?

This program is designed for managers who want to learn more about what business analytics is, how it provides value, and how it is applicable to their business. Marketing directors, business analysts, and finance and operations leaders across a range of industries can benefit from the new skills and approaches gained through this program. The program also is highly relevant for senior managers who seek a more strategic viewpoint on analytics.

This course assumes no prior knowledge or understanding of business analytics, only a desire to learn what it really is, and how and when it can be useful.

Course Outline

The Data-Driven Organization

What are some examples of successful data-driven corporations that have used analytics for competitive advantage? Procter & Gamble, UPS, Amazon, GE and Linked In are all early adopters of analytics and have created a data-driven culture throughout the organization.

Establishing a Data-Driven Culture

How did these companies transform their cultures to be more data-centric? What are the different paths taken to this end? What works, what doesn’t?

What makes decision making difficult?

What factors make decision making difficult: uncertainty, too many alternatives, difficult tradeoffs.

What is business analytics and how does it improve decision making? The process involves moving from mess to model, from model to insight and insight to impact. Each of these stages is important for success.

Case – brainstorming how analytics can address the challenge

Analytics in the Board Room

Story telling is a major determinant as to whether or not data and analytical models have an impact on the firm. Without the ability to influence leaders and decision makers by telling the story, analytics is far less impactful.

Big Data – – finding value in the hype

What is big data? How is it different from just plain data? Which companies have used it for competitive advantage? Can you use analytics with non-big-data?

Advanced Analytics – where is it all going?

The Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Computing are some of the latest developments that will have an impact on the future of analytics and its impact on business.

Faculty

Jeffrey D. CammAssociate Dean of Business Analytics
Inmar Presidential Chair of Analytics
Wake Forest University School of Business

Jeffrey Camm is Associate Dean of Business Analytics and the Inmar Presidential Chair in Business Analytics at the Wake Forest University School of Business. His scholarship is on the application of optimization modeling to difficult decision problems in a diverse set of application areas including, operations planning and scheduling, supply chain optimization, product design, and conservation. His research has been featured in Business Week/Financial Times-ranked academic journals such as Management Science and Operations Research as well the renowned journal Science. He is coauthor of seven texts on business statistics, management science, and business analytics.

Jeff received his PhD in Management Science from Clemson University and a BS in Mathematics from Xavier University. He previously held the Joseph S. Stern Chair in Business Analytics in the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, where he served as department head for twenty years, was awarded the life-time appointment as a Fellow of the Graduate School, and was the founding director of the UC Center for Business Analytics. He has also held positions of visiting professor of business administration at the Tuck school of Business at Dartmouth College and visiting scholar at Stanford University. He has consulted for numerous corporations including Procter and Gamble, Owens Corning, GE, Tyco, Ace Hardware, Boar’s Head, Brooks Running Shoes and Kroger among others. His work with Procter & Gamble is credited with saving P&G over $250M in their North American supply chain and was a finalist for the prestigious Edelman Award.

Tuition

The cost of the program is $925 and includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch, and is due in full at time of registration. Additionally, Wake Forest University alumni, faculty, and staff receive a 10% tuition discount. Please contact Debbie Anderson, andersd@wfu.edu, for more details.

Program Materials

Course materials are included in the cost of tuition. Course materials will be distributed electronically in advance of the program start date. Participants must have a laptop or tablet computer to access course materials.

Registration and Payment

This is an open enrollment program. Application is not required. Course registration is complete when payment is processed. Upon registration, a representative of Wake Forest will contact you to validate the registration information and to assist in fee payment. Please click the link below to begin the registration process.

Cancellation of Program

This course is offered contingent upon sufficient enrollment. If a course must be cancelled, all registered participants will be notified at least five (5) calendar days before the course’s start date. All registered participants will receive a 100% tuition refund. No fees will be charged for cancelled courses.

Refund Policy

Prospective participants who withdraw at least 15 days prior to the start of a course will receive a full refund of tuition paid.

For More Information

For more information or to speak with a program adviser, please send an email to Debbie Anderson at andersd@wfu.edu or call 336-758-4181